For over 50 years, george mardikian stood at the helm of omar khayyams, his world famous restaurant in downtown san francisco. He lived in a time that did not make life easy for learned men unless they had the support of a ruler at one of the many courts. Omar khayyam persian poet and astronomer britannica. Omar khayyam is an armenian restaurant with a persian name in san francisco. Omar khayyam was a most voluptuous persian poet who stunned the literati of the western world. The exchange shish kebabs rekindle memories of khayyams. Reviewed in the united states on february 18, 2012. As a child he studied first with the scholar sheik muhammad mansuri in the town of. Omar khayyam s is an armenian restaurant with a persian name in an american city san francisco and it is outstanding even in that gourmet s paradise of a town. Dinner at omar khayyams armenian recipes, cookbook, books.
I mentioned the 1944 copy of the cookbook, dinner at omar khayyams, written and autographed by owner george mardikian, that my husband tracked down for me through the internet. George magar mardikian november 7, 1903 october 23, 1977 was an armenianamerican restaurateur, chef, author and philanthropist who opened omar khayyams restaurant in san francisco. Dinner at omar khayyams by george mardikian signed 1955. Apr 29, 2009 the book is tattered, agestained,and smells musty, but its a treasure to me and yes, its autographed, too. Ever since fitzgerald started to publish omar khayyams work in the west, advertisements started using omar khayyams name in the books. The earliest allusion to omar khayyam s poetry is from the historian imad addin alisfahani, a younger contemporary of khayyam, who explicitly identifies him as both a poet and a scientist kharidat alqasr, 1174 49. Simplified armenian near east recipes from watertown, mass. Back in the sunshine on the high street, i looked for a cafe where i could sink my teeth into the rubaiyat of omar khayyam and also enjoy a muchneeded pee. As a reminder of such a terrific literary force, we bring to you 10 of his most classic quotes.
He is the most wellknown eastern poet among the europeans for his book of poems rubaiyat omar khayyam quatrains of khayyam which includes more than 100 quatrains. The barbecued specialties are served with basmati rice, salad and tandoori sauce. English, french, german, italian, and dutch translations comparatively arranged in accordance with the text of edward fitzgeralds version, with further selections, notes, biographies, bibliographies, and other material. Omar khayyam audio books, best sellers, author bio. Dinner at omar khayyams, 1949, good vintage condition. The spine ends and corners of the book covers have some light rubbing. The book is tattered, agestained,and smells musty, but its a treasure to. George mardikian, the chef who has made famous a foreign cuisine that is little known in this country the armenian was in town recently in connection with his new book, dinner at omar. The persian astronomer, mathematician, and poet omar khayyam 1048ca.
No visit there is complete without a meal in his famous restaurant and it is a lost opportunity if you dont meet the great chef himself. Omar khayyams cookbook san francisco armenian restaurant signed dinner at omar khayyams cookbook is from the former legendary armenian restaurant located in san francisco, california. Dinner at omar khayyams and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. He has also become established as one of the major mathematicians and astronomers of the medieval period. Khayyams fame as a poet has caused forgot some of his scientific achievements, which were very important. Rubaiyat of omar khayyam, a translation of khayyams poems by edward fitzgerald, featuring numerous quatrains by the persian poet, greatly influenced english literature and contributed significantly to his timeless fame. In 1945, he donated his services as caterer for the united nations conference on international organization that was held in san francisco and established the united nations. In the same year, halleys comet appeared in the heavens, william the conquerors norman army invaded england, and omars father ebrahim died. The recipes are sophisticated enough for parties, but economical and balanced enough to serve the whole family. I loved the book so much because this immigrant saw the beautiful song that.
Armenian chicken soup if george mardikian were alive today, im sure he would permit me to share this recipe from his cookbook, dinner at omar khayyams. Omar khayyams was my grandmothers favorite sf restaurant. Outside the world of mathematics, omar khayyam was known as the result of the popular translation of edward fitzgerald, in 1859, about 600 short fourrow poems of rubaiyat. Published in 1944 by the viking press, stated first printing.
The recipes are rather basic, especially compared to what people are doing today, but they has. Copiers from monterey to mendocino must have hummed with recipes for kebabs and some for pilaf, considered a must with kebabs from mardikians cookbook, dinner at omar khayyams. Omar khayyam celebrated his eighteenth birthday in 1066. See all formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Born in nishapur, at a young age he moved to samarkand and obtained his education there, afterwards he moved to bukhara and became established as one of the major. A dilettante and scholar, fitzgerald went to trinity college, cambridge, and spent most of his life living in seclusion in suffolk. His cooking favors the fresh and simple, avoiding heavy sauces and. Born in 1048, khayyam lived in the 11 th and 12 th centuries, during the reign of the seljuqs and was much respected by the seljuq kings. Although most of the menu is prepared with fresh ingredients, some of the dishes served may contain nuts, wheat and dairy produce. Omar khayyam was born in 1048 in nishapur, a leading metropolis in khorasan during medieval times that reached its zenith of prosperity in the eleventh century under the seljuq dynasty 15 nishapur was also a major center of the zoroastrian religion, and it is likely that khayyams father was a zoroastrian who had converted to islam 68 his full name, as it appears in the arabic. Check out pictures, bibliography, biography and community discussions. Apr 15, 20 omar khayyams was my grandmothers favorite sf restaurant. Dinner at omar khayyam s and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
Decades earlier i had read khayyam and was really upgraded in my emotions. Dinner at omar khayyams by george mardikian hardcover book. Dinner at omar khayyams by george mardikian hardcover. This work is known for its solution of the various cases of the cubic equation by finding the intersections of appropriately chosen conic sections. Dinner at omar khayyams by george mardikian signed 1955 7th. In dinner at omar khayam s cookbook, george mardikian reveals the culinary secrets which have made his establishment so famous. He is thought to have been the son of tent makers, as alkhayyami translates to tent maker. In khayyams poetry, his main message across the audience was life is short. He also wrote treatises on mechanics, geography, mineralogy, music, c. The dishes described are exotic and different, but thrifty, healthful, and easy, even for amateur chefs, to prepare. His significance as a philosopher and teacher, and his few remaining philosophical works, have not received the same attention as his scientific and poetic writings. The recipes are rather basic, especially compared to what people.
Jun 19, 2009 on april 29th i wrote about my familys dinner experience at omar khayyams restaurant in san francisco. The book and its contents are in generally clean, bright condition. The shears of fate khayyam, who stitched the tents of. I recently came to own an autographed copy of dinner at omar khayyams, which i will treasure for the connection. Wonder and wine in the rubaiyat of omar khayyam chicago.
Should you have concerns about a food allergy or intolerance please speak to our staff before you order your food or drink. There were games made after omar khayyams name and many dinner menus. In dinner at omar khayams cookbook, george mardikian reveals the culinary secrets which have made his establishment so famous. He wrote treatises on mechanics, geography, and music. Dinner at omar khayyam s cookbook is from the former legendary armenian restaurant located in san francisco, california. In this cook book for americans dinner at omar khayyams. Omar khayyam, persian mathematician, astronomer, and poet, renowned in his own country and time for his scientific achievements but chiefly known to englishspeaking readers through the translation of a collection of his roba. In 1945, he donated his services as caterer for the united nations conference on international organization that was. Sports lovers will be very pleased to know that its location is only minutes away from murrayfield stadium and tynecastle, home of the scottish national rugby team and. The omar khayyam s menu is steeped in the traditions of punjabi cuisine.
His masterpiece, a translation of the rubaiyat of omar khayyam, appeared anonymously in 1859 and passed unnoticed until dante gabriel rossetti made it famous. Omar khayyam has 151 books on goodreads with 93774 ratings. He also wrote treatises on mechanics, geography, mineralogy, music, climatology and islamic theology. See all 11 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Tells of george mardikians life and opening omar khayyams famous r. Internet archive contributor internet archive language english. Omar khayyam biography life of persian mathematician. The restaurant has a wide range of sumptuous lamb and chicken recipes on offer. A great trading post, nishapur served as the capital city of seljuq dynasty at the time of his birth. I left prosperos with the little book in my sweaty hands, and it would change my life rather than kill a few good afternoons. Jan 12, 2015 dinner at omar khayyams george mardikian. It has a roughhewn quality, reminiscent of the style of an earlier american translator, john payne the rubaiyat of omar khayyam. Dinner at omar khayyams and a great selection of related books.
The book is tattered, agestained,and smells musty, but its a treasure to me and yes, its autographed, too. His cooking favors the fresh and simple, avoiding heavy sauces and complex recipes. This book is partly autobiography partly reminiscences of san francisco and largely recipes of specialties not only of omar khayyams but of eastern dishes known to too few american housewives, but. The outer mainbelt asteroid 1980 rt2 is also named in honor of omar khayyam. Google on saturday marked renowned persian mathematician omar khayyams 971st birth anniversary with a doodle. This book is partly autobiography partly reminiscences of san francisco and largely recipes of specialties not only of omar khayyams but of eastern dishes known to too few american housewives, but perfectly practicable, even in many cases in these rationed days. Omar khayyams is an armenian restaurant with a persian name in an american city san francisco and it is outstanding even in that gourmets paradise of a town. The mathematician and poet omar khayyam was born in neyshabur in iran only a few years before albirunis death. Dinner at omar khayyams by george mardikian kirkus. Omar khayyam was a persian mathematician history essay. The holidays slowed but didnt stop the flow of letters answering a reader s request for omar khayyam s shish kebabs many correspondents shared memories not only of this long gone san francisco. In 1944, he published a cook book, dinner at omar khayyams, that was reprinted numerous times over the next two.
Omar khayyams cookbook san francisco armenian restaurant. The argentine marxist revolutionary and guerrilla leader che guevara named his son omar in honor of khayyam and his work. Author george mardikian owned the famous san francisco restaurant omar khayyam. Sep 22, 2012 rose baboians armenianamerican cook book. Featuring the dishes served at the famous sf restaurant. Omar khayyam was a persian polymath, mathematician, philosopher, astronomer, physician, and poet. He was born on 18 may, 1048 in nishapur, khorasan present iran. Omar khayyam, the poet of contemplation and uncertainty. His significance as a philosopher and teacher, and his few remaining philosophical works, have not received the. Dinner at omar khayyams george mardikian, william saroyan, joseph henry jackson on. Not only did he discover a general method of extracting roots of arbitrary high. Id heard about it all my life but, growing up in oregon, i unfortunately never got to experience personally sadly, i missed it by only a few months.
The elegantly decorated interior enhances the charm of dining here. Omar khayyam indian restaurant, on 1 grosvenor street, is located opposite edinburghs haymarket station and the princes street shopping area is only 10 minutes drive away. This is a page from a manuscript of the algebra maqalah fi aljabra waal muqabalah of omar khayyam 104811. On april 29th i wrote about my familys dinner experience at omar khayyams restaurant in san francisco. Every year our family vacationed at the van hotel, an armenian hotel in asbury park, at the jersey shore. Doomans translation of the rubaiyat, containing 180 quatrains, was first published in 1911.
Omar khayyam was a famous mathematician, poet and astronomer. He also wrote treatises on mechanics, geography, and music. Omar khayyams full name was ghiyath aldin abulfath umar ibn ibrahim alnisaburi alkhayyami. Customers from all echelons came to 200 powell street not just to indulge in onceexotic dishes like shish kebab and dolma, but to mingle with the energetic and passionate mardikian himself, which life magazine once referred to as the most favorable man in. Omar khayyam mathematician born may 18, 1048 nishapur, khorasan died december 4, 11 around age 8283 nationality persian born on may 18, 1048, in nishapur, the khorasan province, persia, omar khayyam was a prominent and influential persian mathematician, astronomer, poet and philosopher whose major works had a tremendous impact on scholars in englishspeaking countries. Omar khayyam was born ghiyath aldin abulfath umar ibn ibrahim alnisaburi alkhayyami on 18 may 1048, in nishapur, located at the foot of binalud mountain in northeastern iran. Khayyam was a persian mathematician, poet, philosopher, astronomer. A few months after ebrahims death, omars tutor bahmanyar also died. Recipe book written by george mardkian as a result of his. This is an inscribed and signed collectible cookbook and has a wealth of fantastic recipes from the past. Omar khayyams indian restaurant, nha trang menu, prices.